permanently displayed near the batting cages on Mason Field. PHOTO BY AMBER ANGOVE
By Geena Monahan—For the North Star Reporter
Amid the energy and celebration of Little North Attleboro League’s Opening Day, the community paused Saturday morning, April 25, to honor a former player whose impact continues to shape the program more than a decade later.
During opening ceremonies at Mason Field, league officials, family members and players gathered to dedicate a new memorial to Brandon Luise — a former LNAL player and junior umpire who died in 2014 at the age of 19.
The tribute, installed near the batting cages, formalizes a legacy long carried on through an annual scholarship awarded in his name.
“To be up here today and be a part of this moment with his family means a lot to myself and everyone involved in this league,” said LNAL President Zach Johnson. “In addition to the scholarship, we’ve implemented a memorial by our batting cages and dedicated the space to Brandon in his honor and memory.”
Designed in the shape of home plate, the memorial now stands as a permanent fixture at the complex — a space used by hundreds of young athletes each season.
“It’s a beautiful tribute to a beautiful human who left us too soon,” Johnson said.
Luise’s connection to the league extended beyond his years as a player. After competing in LNAL, he returned as a junior umpire, mentoring younger players before becoming a fully certified umpire who worked games exclusively in North Attleborough.
“One of the most impressive things with Brandon was that he became a junior umpire to mentor younger kids,” said Patrick Weir, his stepfather. “After that, he went out and became a full-patched umpire. He only did it in North Attleborough.”
A multi-sport athlete, Luise also played football and excelled in track and field, earning Hockomock League all-star honors in the high jump. His athletic ability, family members said, was matched by his character
“He was just honestly a genuinely good kid with a huge heart,” said his mother, Lisa Weir. “One of the things we have on his stone is something he always said: ‘Anything for anyone, no matter what.’ Whenever someone needed him — he’d be there.”
Each year, the Brandon Luise College Scholarship is awarded to two LNAL junior umpires who have participated in the program for at least two years, recognizing the same commitment to service and leadership that Luise demonstrated.
For his family, the memorial carries added meaning, as new generations of players enter the league without knowing him personally.
“Your fear is always that your child is going to be forgotten,” Lisa Weir said. “For so many years in LNAL, people knew him because he either played or umpired them. Now we’re at the point where it’s an entirely new generation.”
Saturday’s dedication helps bridge that gap.
“They’re too young to know who he was,” Patrick Weir said. “But this dedication means that Brandon is always going to be remembered.”
The ceremony was part of LNAL Day, one of the town’s largest annual traditions, which began with a parade from North Attleborough Middle School and ended at Mason Field, followed by a full slate of games and activities.
While much of the day centered on the excitement of a new season — with nearly 500 players across more than 50 teams — the memorial offered a quieter moment of reflection.
Even so, family members said Luise wouldn’t have wanted all the fanfare.
“He was shy — he’d be in the back of the room, quiet, and not want any of this attention,” Patrick Weir said with a laugh.
But in a place defined by teamwork, mentorship and community, those closest to him said the recognition feels fitting.
As players filtered past the newly dedicated batting cages, some stopping to look, others heading to the concession stands or to play a game of ball, the memorial became part of the landscape of the league he once called home — and a lasting reminder of the kind of person he was.